U.S. patent number 6,283,540 [Application Number 08/915,944] was granted by the patent office on 2001-09-04 for plastic panel assembly for use in a vehicle.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Webasto Sunroofs, Inc.. Invention is credited to Lloyd G. Racine, Robert John Siebelink, Jr..
United States Patent |
6,283,540 |
Siebelink, Jr. , et
al. |
September 4, 2001 |
Plastic panel assembly for use in a vehicle
Abstract
A plastic panel assembly for use in a vehicle is provided
including a sheet metal frame constructed and arranged to be
coupled to a vehicle and a plastic panel mounted to the sheet metal
frame. The plastic panel includes a plurality of pin members
extending from a surface thereof and the frame includes a plurality
of openings therethrough such that one pin member is disposed
through an associated opening. Fastening structure is constructed
and arranged with respect to the pin members to retain the plastic
panel to the frame so that the panel is prevented from moving
relative to the frame in a direction of extension of the pin
members while the panel is permitted to move relative to the frame
in a direction transverse to the direction of extension of the pin
members, upon thermal expansion of the panel.
Inventors: |
Siebelink, Jr.; Robert John
(Ann Arbor, MI), Racine; Lloyd G. (Shelby Township, MI) |
Assignee: |
Webasto Sunroofs, Inc.
(Rochester Hills, MI)
|
Appl.
No.: |
08/915,944 |
Filed: |
August 21, 1997 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
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503013 |
Jul 17, 1995 |
5702779 |
|
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Current International
Class: |
B60J 007/043 ();
E04B 001/343 () |
Field of
Search: |
;296/191,901,216.09,216.06 ;52/573.1,309.13 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Dayoan; D. Glenn
Assistant Examiner: Gutman; Hilary
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Pillsbury Winthrop LLP
Parent Case Text
This is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser.
No. 08/503,013 filed Jul. 17, 1995, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,702,779.
This invention relates to plastic panel assemblies and, more
particularly, to plastic panel assemblies for use in vehicles.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method of compensating for thermal expansion and contraction
of a plastic panel structure mounted to a frame structure, said
frame structure having a coefficient of thermal expansion less than
that of said plastic panel structure and defining a central opening
therein being disposed in a plane, said plastic panel structure
being disposed with respect to said frame structure so that a
marginal peripheral portion of said plastic panel structure
extending generally in the direction of extent of said plane is
coextensive with a marginal peripheral portion of said frame
structure and a central portion thereof extends in covering
relation with said central opening, the method including:
providing a series of at least three pin and slot connections
extending operatively between the coextensive peripheral portions
of said plastic panel and frame structures and disposed in spaced
relation therealong for retaining the coextensive peripheral
portions of said plastic panel and frame structures together, each
of the at least three pin and slot connections including a slot
formed in one of said plastic panel and frame structures and a pin
provided on the other of the plastic panel and frame structures,
each said pin extending transversely through a respective slot
formed in said one of said plastic panel and frame structures, each
said slot having a longitudinal axis extending in a direction
toward a common point disposed within said central opening,
preventing relative movement of said pins within respective slots
along said plane in one direction within which the at least three
pin and slot connections are disposed while allowing relative
movement of said pins within respective slots along said plane
generally in directions away from and toward said common point,
and
enabling the plastic panel structure to expand and contract with
respect to said central opening in response to changes in
temperature within a range of operating temperatures while
providing a stable connection in any direction along said plane
between the coextensive peripheral portions of said plastic panel
and frame structures throughout the range of operating
temperatures.
Description
With the development of new plastic materials, it is now possible
to replace conventional glass panels used in vehicles with
light-weight, transparent plastic panel assemblies. For example,
fixed vehicle windows may be replaced with plastic panel
assemblies. Further, a plastic roof panel may be employed in a
sunroof assembly mounted for movement between a closed position
with respect to a roof opening and a fully opened position, or a
venting position where a rear end of the panel is tilted upwardly
with respect to the vehicle roof. Alternatively, the sunroof
assembly may be of the type whereby the plastic roof panel may be
removed completely from the opening and moved to storage.
The use of plastic panels has been limited due to the thermal
expansion properties of plastic material. Plastic panels, when used
in vehicles, are exposed to a wide range of temperatures. Thus,
thermal expansion of the plastic panel must be accounted for when
mounted to a sheet metal frame. To compensate for thermal expansion
of the plastic panel, the panel must be mounted so as to be capable
of moving relative to the sheet metal frame.
Accordingly, a need exists to provide a plastic panel assembly
wherein the plastic panel of the assembly is mounted to a sheet
metal frame such that the plastic panel may move relative to the
frame in at least one direction upon thermal expansion of the
plastic panel.
An object of the present invention is to fulfill the need expressed
above. In accordance with the principles of the present invention,
this objective is accomplished by providing a plastic panel
assembly for use in a vehicle including a sheet metal frame having
a central opening therein, and a plastic panel mounted to the sheet
metal frame so as to cover the central opening. The plastic panel
includes a plurality of pin members extending from a surface
thereof and the frame includes a plurality of openings therethrough
such that one pin member is disposed through an associated opening.
Fastening structure is constructed and arranged with respect to the
pin members to retain the plastic panel to the frame so that the
panel is prevented from moving relative to the frame in a direction
of extension of the pin members while the panel is permitted to
move relative to the frame in at least one direction transverse to
the direction of extension of the pin members, upon thermal
expansion of the panel.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a method of
compensating for thermal expansion of a plastic panel mounted to a
sheet metal frame is provided. The method includes fastening the
plastic panel to the frame with a fastening structure. The
fastening structure is operatively associated with pin members of
the panel which are disposed in slots defined in the frame. Thus,
the plastic panel is fixed to the frame and prevented from moving
in a direction of extension of the pin members. However, the panel
is permitted to move relative to the frame due to thermal expansion
of the panel, in at least one direction transverse to the direction
of extension of the pin members.
These and other objects of the present invention will become more
apparent during the course of the following detailed description
and appended claims. The invention may thus be understood with
reference to the accompanying drawings wherein an illustrative
embodiment is shown.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a plastic panel assembly provided in
accordance with the principles of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a plan view of a sheet metal frame showing the
orientation of mounting slots for receiving pin members of a
plastic panel;
FIG. 3 is a partial, cross-sectional view of the plastic panel
assembly provided in accordance with the principles of the present
invention, shown mounted in an opening of a vehicle roof defining a
sunroof panel;
FIG. 4 is a partial, cross-sectional view of the assembly of FIG. 3
at a pin location;
FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a side of the plastic panel assembly
of FIG. 3;
FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the plastic panel of the assembly
taken along the line 6--6 of FIG. 5; and
FIG. 7 is a side view of a vehicle employing the plastic panel
assembly of the invention in a sunroof assembly and as a side
window.
Referring now more particularly to the drawings, there is shown in
FIGS. 1-4 a plastic panel assembly, generally indicated at 10,
which includes a plastic panel 12, preferably of polycarbonate
material, and a sheet metal frame, generally indicated at 14,
embodying the principles of the present invention. In the
illustrated embodiment of FIGS. 3-5 and 7, the plastic panel
assembly 10 is shown mounted in an opening 16 of a vehicle roof 18
and is employed as a movable sunroof panel.
As shown in FIG. 2, the sheet-metal frame 14 is of generally
rectangular configuration having a central opening 20 therein. The
frame 14 includes a plurality of spaced openings or slots 22
therein which are used for mounting the plastic panel 12 to the
frame 14 so that the panel 12 covers the central opening 20. Since
thermal expansion occurs evenly in all directions and in an
amorphous material, such as plastic, the slots 22 are arranged
radially from the center point C of the frame 14 or opening 20.
Thus, the longitudinal axis D of each slot 22 passes through the
center point C. Further, all of the slots 22 are constructed and
arranged to receive a generally cylindrical pin member or pin 24,
extending from a bottom surface 26 of the plastic panel 12, as best
shown in FIGS. 4-6. All cylindrical pins 24 have diameters of equal
size.
In the illustrated embodiment, the pins 24 are made integral with
the plastic panel 12. However, it can be appreciated that the pins
24 may be formed as a separate part which may be coupled to the
bottom surface 26 of the plastic panel 12. The plastic panel 12 is
also of generally rectangular configuration and the pins 24 are
located in a peripheral portion thereof so that the plastic panel
12 may be secured to the frame 14, covering central opening 20.
Thus, in the illustrated embodiment, edges of the panel 12 are
flush with edges of the frame 14 (FIG. 1). The plastic panel 12 is
fixed from movement in the X-direction (FIG. 2) by slots A.sub.3
and A.sub.4, and is fixed from Y-direction movement by slots
A.sub.1 and A.sub.3. Thus, slots A.sub.1 through A.sub.4 are
locating slots since they locate the plastic panel 12 with respect
to the frame 14. It can be appreciated that a minimum of three
locating slots are required to properly locate the plastic panel 12
with respect to the frame 14. In the illustrated embodiment,
however, four slots are provided. Slots B as shown in FIG. 2 are
clearance slots for the purpose of permitting movement of the
plastic panel 12 relative to the frame 14, as detailed further
below. In the illustrated embodiment, the locating slots A.sub.1
through A.sub.4 have a width less than the width of the clearance
slots B, providing increased accuracy in locating the panel 12 with
respect to the frame 14 and to ensure that the panel 12 is fixed in
the X and Y direction by the pins 24 as noted above. A line-to-line
fit results when pins are disposed in slots A.sub.l through
A.sub.4.
With reference to FIGS. 1, 4 and 5, mounting of the plastic panel
12 to the sheet metal frame 14 will be appreciated. As shown, each
pin 24 is associated with a respective slot 22 such that each pin
24 extends through each slot 22. Fastening structure, in the form
of a washer 28 and fastener 30 secure the panel 12 to the frame 14.
First, slip washer 28 having a bore therethrough is disposed over
each pin 24. Next, the fastener 30 of generally disc-shape and
having barbs 32 extending from a surface thereof is used to secure
the plastic panel 12 to the frame 14. The fasteners 30 have a bore
therethrough sized to receive an associated pin 24. Fastener 30 is
easy to assemble and provides a securing function without adding a
compressive. force component upon fastening. This feature aids in
the sliding of the plastic panel 12 relative to the sheet metal
frame 14, as will become apparent below. The washer 28, preferably
of TEFLON.RTM., reduces friction between the plastic panel 12 and
the sheet metal frame 14. Thus, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the
barbs 32 of the fastener 30 engage the peripheral surface of the
pin 24 so as to prevent the washer 28 and fastener 30 from
disengaging from the pin 24. Further, with the fastener 30 firmly
in place, the washer 28 is sandwiched between the frame 14 and the
fastener 30. Thus, the panel 12 is secured rigidly to the frame 14
in the direction of extension of the pins 24. However, upon thermal
expansion of the plastic panel 12, the plastic panel 12 is free to
move radially with respect to the center of the frame C, to
accommodate thermal expansion of the panel 12. Thus, the panel 12
is free to move in a direction transverse to the extension
direction of the pins 24, but only radially with respect to the
center point C of the frame 14, since the panel is fixed in the X
and Y directions in slots A.sub.1 through A.sub.4.
As shown in FIG. 6, pads 34 are disposed adjacent each pin 24 to
provide a bearing surface to the frame 14 opposing the washer 28 on
the other side of the frame 14.
To facilitate assembly of the fasteners 30 and washers 28 to the
pins, the frame 14 includes cut-outs 36 therein as shown in FIG. 4
providing access to the pins.
Although the illustrated embodiment shows the pins 24 extending
from the surface 26 of the plastic panel 12 and the frame 14
includes the slots 22 therein, it can be appreciated that the pins
24 could be coupled to or integral with the frame 14, while the
plastic panel integrates the slots 22.
As noted above, the plastic panel assembly 10 of the invention can
be utilized in other vehicle applications, such as vehicle windows.
Thus, it is within the contemplation of the invention to provide a
plastic panel assembly for use as a fixed vehicle window such as a
vehicle rear window or immovable side windows. The assembly may
include the sheet metal frame 14 of FIG. 2, which can be coupled to
the vehicle or, the sheet metal frame 14 may be made integral with
the vehicle frame. FIG. 7 shows the assembly 100 employed in a side
window, including a plastic panel 112 mounted to the vehicle frame
14, with the pins of the panel 112 secured to the slots of the
frame 14 by the fastening structure, in the manner discussed
above.
In certain circumstances, particularly when the assembly is
employed as a vehicle window, it is preferable that the assembly be
covered around its entire periphery to contain the attachment
between the plastic panel and frame thereby providing peripheral
stability to the assembly.
It can be appreciated that the plastic panel may be coated with a
protective coating or covering to reduce or prevent surface
scratches therein.
It thus will be seen that the objects of this invention have been
fully and effectively accomplished. It will be realized, however,
that the foregoing preferred embodiment has been shown and
described for the purpose of this invention and is subject to
change without departure from such principles. Therefore, this
invention includes all modifications encompassed within the spirit
and scope of the following claims.
* * * * *